Good morning everyone, we had a new addition to our Lake House Bedroom this weekend. They’re bright, bold and just the right shot of color our are newly neutral bedroom needed after receiving it’s fresh coat of paint last week. These are the first of a few doses of color our bedroom will get. They couldn’t have been easier to sew and they look so good too sitting on the bed all fluffy and colorful. I have plans to make a few more in this fabric and some others to pull the whole room together but those will have to wait for another day and another post since it’s back to work time for me today.
In the meantime while I get my sew on for all the other pillows, here is a quick and easy tutorial on how to sew envelope back pillows. I decided to go with an envelope back because it just might be the easiest way to sew a pillow ever. I made these for my Euro size pillows on my bed which are those big square ones you see all the time. I just love the way they look but never love the price tag on those size pillow covers.
First you’ll want to choose the size of your pillow. I wanted to cover my Euro size pillows which are 24 x 24 inches.
You’ll need to cut 3 pieces of fabric. I wanted floral fabric on the front with a neutral fabric on the back. Out of the Front Fabric I cut 1 piece 24 inches square. Yes the same size as the pillow, I like mine nice and plump so the finished size will be slightly smaller than the 24 inch pillow. Then you’ll cut the 2 back pieces. My measurements were 24 x 14 inches and 24 x 20 inches allowing for a 3 inch overlap that makes the envelope and a generous 1 inch hem allowance.
Make sure you iron all your pieces flat. Even if they don’t really look wrinkled iron them anyway. It makes sewing a professional looking pillow that much easier.
To finish the back pieces press your raw edge down 1 inch. Fold it over and press another 1 inch.
Using a straight stitch on your machine hem the back pieces you just folded and ironed.
To assemble your pillow lay the front piece down face up. Next lay your shorter back piece face down lining up the raw edges with your bottom piece. Make sure the right sides of the fabric are facing together. Then lay your longer back piece face down which should overlap the first piece.
Pin your pieces in a couple of places along the edge so they don’t shift around as you move them to your machine.
Using a straight stitch sew along all 4 sides of your pillow
Turn the whole piece right side out
Your back pieces should overlap, creating a simple envelope back pillow. Easy. Peasy
Stuff and fluff till your hearts content.
25 comments :
michele@hellolovelyinc January 11, 2012 11:31PM
absolutely stunning! thanks so much for this tutorial!
come visit anytime. smiles.
michele
Maria January 12, 2012 9:38AM
Oh thanks Michelle, I’ll definitely come stop by!
the cape on the corner January 13, 2012 10:21AM
wow, what great fabric. it seems like a great tutorial, altho i’m not a sewer…i’ve made pillow covers using napkins and fabric glue.
Maria January 13, 2012 10:57AM
Thank You, The fabric is Wonderland in Pearl by Braemore. I be you could totally do this with fabric glue too!
Leah January 26, 2012 3:39PM
I love these! Beautiful fabric! I couldn’t have found your tutorial at a better time. I’ve been thinking about making a whole slew of throw pillows to give my worn sofa a face lift! Thanks!!
Maria January 26, 2012 6:43PM
Thanks Leah, glad they helped. New pillows can spruce up anything .
Lauren Rebecca February 20, 2012 7:32PM
I’m in love with this pillow design. Very chic. Thanks for visiting my site. So glad to have you. I look forward to looking around your blog as well. Thank you
Maria February 20, 2012 8:08PM
Thanks Lauren for stopping by
beth bryant March 22, 2012 2:24PM
I’m just learning to sew and I think I can do this! thanks for sharing!!
OurLakeLife March 22, 2012 2:33PM
I think you can it’s really more ironing than sewing. And the best part is you only need a straight stitch sew these
Colleen March 22, 2012 2:25PM
Gorgeous pillows!!!
OurLakeLife March 22, 2012 2:32PM
Thanks Colleen
Rebekah from Woven Home March 22, 2012 8:36PM
I saw your link on Censational Girl, and I had to stop by….I love this fabric, I used it in a bedroom makeover last year…it really is bright and fun.
OurLakeLife March 23, 2012 7:32AM
Thanks Colleen, I love it too. It’s such a happy fabric.
OurLakeLife March 23, 2012 10:32AM
Thank you Rebekah, It is such a fun fabric. I love it too
Angela March 27, 2012 10:32AM
Can you explain how you got the meausrements for the 2 back pieces, I didnt quite understand.
Thanks
OurLakeLife March 27, 2012 1:00PM
Hi Angela,
I’m not really an expert seamtress so my measurements are not really a science. I pretty much guesstimated my measurements. Here’s how I figured it. For an envelope pillow of this size approximately a 3 inch overlap will work well, plus I like a generous 1 inch seam allowance because I’m not an expert sewer and narrow hems make me nervous.
I took my front piece measurement of 24 inches.
Add 6 inches for the overlap(The top and the bottom each need to overlap 3 inches so you have to add the overlap allowance twice).
Add 4 inches for the hem allowance, because you’re hemming in a total of 4 place for the two flaps.
Then I folded it approximately into thirds and cut off the top third to get my two pieces.
It’s won’t matter if the final overlap is a little bigger or smaller than three inches as I said it doesn’t have to be exact.
Let me know if you still have questions and I’ll try to answer them as best I can.
Maria
Linda March 27, 2012 2:55PM
This is such a great project! I love, love the fabric …
… and I
love it’s simplicity. In fact, it’s downright cinchy … and would be
perfect at our “It’s a Cinch” multi-blog link party. The link stays
open until midnight Friday and when you link at one blog, you’re
automatically linked up to the party’s five co-hosts …
http://www.itallstartedwithpaint.com/2012/03/its-cinch-link-party.html
Hope to see you at the party!
Linda
http://www.itallstartedwithpaint.com
Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story April 27, 2012 1:44PM
Gorgeous pillows. Great fabric. Where did you get it from? About using glue, doesn’t really work that well. Had a tough time on my dish towel throw pillows as you can see here.
http://whatsurhomestory.com/dish-towel-throw-pillows/
OurLakeLife April 30, 2012 7:57AM
HI Vidya, I actually lucked out and found a couple yards on eBay. But if you do a search for Braemore Wonderland Pearl you can find a number of places that sell it.
Janice June 1, 2012 10:31AM
I loved this DIY! So clear and simple .. my family room euro pillows turned out AMAZING. Thank you so much for posting!
Our Lake Life June 1, 2012 7:12PM
Awesome Janice, So glad they turned out great
diane@SweetEuropeanDreams July 26, 2012 3:37PM
I just found this tutorial via Pinterest and tried it today. Woohoo! My son now has a Star Wars euro sham on his bed, and he thinks I’m ultra talented! Thanks again for your easy peasy recipe for shams! -diane
Maria July 26, 2012 3:46PM
Awesome so glad it helped. Your son’s one lucky guy. Thanks for stopping by!
real estate for sale May 10, 2013 11:49PM
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox
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same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
Thank you!